2024 Georgia Southern Eagles football team explained
The 2024 Georgia Southern Eagles football team will represent Georgia Southern University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Eagles are led by Clay Helton in his third year as the head coach. The Eagles will play home games at Paulson Stadium, located in Statesboro, Georgia.
Preseason
Media poll
In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Eagles were picked to finish fourth place in the East division.[1]
| Media poll (East division) |
| 1 | Appalachian State | 96 (12) |
| 2 | James Madison | 79 (2) |
| 3 | Coastal Carolina | 67 |
| 4 | Georgia Southern | 50 |
| 5 | Marshall | 49 |
| 6 | Old Dominion | 32 |
| 7 | Georgia State | 19 | |
Runningback
Jalen White and wide receiver Derwin Burgess Jr. were awarded to be in the preseason All-Sun Belt first team offense.
[2] Linebacker Marques Waston-Trent and defensive linemen Justin Rhodes and Isaac Walker were named to the All-Sun Belt first team defense.
Offensive linemen Chandler Strong and Pinchon Wimbley, defensive back TJ Smith, and returner DeAndre Buchannon were named to the second team.
Schedule
The football schedule was announced on March 1, 2024.[3]
Game summaries
Boise State
See also: 2024 Boise State Broncos football team.
| Statistics | BSU | GASO |
|---|
| First downs | 23 | 27 |
| Total yards | 651 | 461 |
| Rushing yards | 371 | 139 |
| Passing yards | 280 | 322 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–31–1 | 28–50–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:31 | 31:29 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Boise State | Passing | | 22/31, 280 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | | 20 carries, 267 yards, 6 TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 99 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | | 28/50, 322 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | JC French | 16 carries, 39 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 4 receptions, 93 yards | |
at Nevada
See also: 2024 Nevada Wolf Pack football team.
| Statistics | GASO | NEV |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 26 |
| Total yards | 285 | 498 |
| Rushing yards | 42 | 227 |
| Passing yards | 243 | 271 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–37–0 | 23–35–0 |
| Time of possession | 22:39 | 37:21 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 23/37, 243 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | OJ Arnold | 7 carries, 23 yards |
| Receiving | Dalen Cobb | 7 receptions, 81 yards, TD |
| Nevada | Passing | | 23/35, 271 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Brendon Lewis | 18 carries, 97 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Cortez Braham | 9 receptions, 110 yards, TD | |
South Carolina State (FCS)
See also: 2024 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team.
| Statistics | SCST | GASO |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 318 | 351 |
| Rushing yards | 112 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 206 | 211 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–38–1 | 17–24–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:38 | 27:22 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| South Carolina State | Passing | Eric Phoenix | 24/37, 206 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Eric Phoenix | 8 carries, 63 yards |
| Receiving | Caden High | 10 receptions, 81 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 17/23, 211 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | OJ Arnold | 4 carries, 42 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Josh Dallas | 1 reception, 58 yards | |
at No. 5 Ole Miss
See also: 2024 Ole Miss Rebels football team.
| Statistics | GASO | MISS |
|---|
| First downs | 16 | 26 |
| Total yards | 194 | 607 |
| Rushing yards | 37 | 219 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 388 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–33–1 | 23–33–1 |
| Time of possession | 34:26 | 25:34 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 20/28, 109 yards |
| Rushing | Jalen White | 7 carries, 24 yards |
| Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 5 receptions, 53 yards, TD |
| Ole Miss | Passing | | 22/31, 382 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Rushing | | 13 carries, 89 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 11 receptions, 225 yards, 2 TD | |
at Georgia State (rivalry)
See also: 2024 Georgia State Panthers football team and Georgia Southern–Georgia State football rivalry.
| Statistics | GASO | GAST |
|---|
| First downs | 30 | 15 |
| Total yards | 498 | 385 |
| Rushing yards | 261 | 29 |
| Passing yards | 237 | 356 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–39–0 | 23–45–3 |
| Time of possession | 39:10 | 20:50 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 24/39, 237 yards, TD |
| Rushing | | 22 carries, 114 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Josh Dallas | 9 receptions, 89 yards, TD |
| Georgia State | Passing | | 23/45, 356 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Freddie Brock | 10 carries, 36 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Ted Hurst | 4 receptions, 112 yards, TD | |
Marshall
See also: 2024 Marshall Thundering Herd football team.
| Statistics | MRSH | GASO |
|---|
| First downs | 18 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 72–389 | 74–422 |
| Rushes–yards | 43–200 | 33–93 |
| Passing yards | 189 | 329 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–29–1 | 26–41–1 |
| Time of possession | 31:03 | 28:57 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Marshall | Passing | Stone Earle | 9/17, 97 yards, INT |
| Rushing | A. J. Turner | 14 carries, 97 yards |
| Receiving | Christian Fitzpatrick | 5 receptions, 49 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 16/26, 194 yards, INT |
| Rushing | JC French | 11 carries, 25 yards |
| Receiving | Dalen Cobb | 6 receptions, 93 yards | |
James Madison
See also: 2024 James Madison Dukes football team.
| Statistics | JMU | GASO |
|---|
| First downs | 16 | 24 |
| Total yards | 253 | 405 |
| Rushing yards | 67 | 190 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 215 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–41–0 | 24–33–3 |
| Time of possession | 26:01 | 33:59 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| James Madison | Passing | | 22/41, 186 yards, TD |
| Rushing | George Pettaway | 13 carries, 63 yards |
| Receiving | Omarion Dollison | 3 receptions, 51 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 24/33, 215 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Jalen White | 23 carries, 134 yards |
| Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 5 receptions, 52 yards, TD | |
at Old Dominion
See also: 2024 Old Dominion Monarchs football team.
| Statistics | GASO | ODU |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 26 |
| Total yards | 416 | 560 |
| Rushing yards | 113 | 256 |
| Passing yards | 303 | 304 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–36–1 | 20–27–0 |
| Time of possession | 25:08 | 34:52 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 17/29, 259 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | OJ Arnold | 7 carries, 36 yards |
| Receiving | Dalen Cobb | 7 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Old Dominion | Passing | Colton Joseph | 20/26, 304 yards, 4 TD |
| Rushing | Aaron Young | 14 carries, 77 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Isiah Page | 7 receptions, 100 yards | |
at South Alabama
See also: 2024 South Alabama Jaguars football team.
| Statistics | GASO | USA |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 337 | 458 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 184 |
| Passing yards | 231 | 274 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–33–0 | 23–32–1 |
| Time of possession | 31:52 | 28:08 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 22/27, 198 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Jalen White | 18 carries, 71 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Josh Dallas | 5 receptions, 96 yards, 2 TD |
| South Alabama | Passing | | 22/30, 257 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Kentrel Bullock | 17 carries, 101 yards |
| Receiving | Jamaal Pritchett | 12 receptions, 107 yards, TD | |
Troy
See also: 2024 Troy Trojans football team.
| Statistics | TROY | GASO |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Total yards | 441 | 246 |
| Rushing yards | 153 | 75 |
| Passing yards | 288 | 171 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 26–32–0 | 17–28–1 |
| Time of possession | 38:31 | 21:29 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 26/32, 288 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Damien Taylor | 18 carries, 92 yards |
| Receiving | Devonte Ross | 10 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 17/28, 171 yards, INT |
| Rushing | OJ Arnold | 6 carries, 27 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Josh Dallas | 4 receptions, 69 yards | |
at Coastal Carolina
See also: 2024 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team.
| Statistics | GASO | CCU |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 12 |
| Total yards | 384 | 280 |
| Rushing yards | 90 | 163 |
| Passing yards | 294 | 117 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–38–0 | 11–32–3 |
| Time of possession | 38:45 | 21:15 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 25/38, 294 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Jalen White | 13 carries, 46 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 8 receptions, 98 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | | 10/25, 92 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Braydon Bennett | 16 carries, 138 yards |
| Receiving | Senika McKie | 5 receptions, 78 yards | |
Appalachian State (rivalry)
See also: 2024 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team and Appalachian State–Georgia Southern football rivalry.
| Statistics | APP | GASO |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Appalachian State | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
Notes and References
- Web site: 2024-07-22 . Sun Belt Announces Football Preseason Awards & Poll . 2024-07-23 . sunbeltsports.org . en.
- Web site: 2024-07-22 . Nine Eagles Picked As Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference . 2024-07-23 . Georgia Southern University Athletics . en.
- Web site: 2024 Georgia Southern Football Schedule . FBSchedules.com . January 20, 2024.
